Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and the Colorado Rockies completed a $63.5 million, seven-year deal on Tuesday. The contract also includes a team option for 2031, which could increase the total value to $84 million over eight seasons.
The 22-year-old will receive a $1.5 million signing bonus and annual salaries starting from $1.5 million this season, escalating to $16 million in 2030. The Rockies hold an option for $23 million in 2031, with a $2.5 million buyout.
This new agreement replaces a one-year contract signed on Feb. 29, which included a $745,000 salary in the major leagues and $361,000 in the minors.
Rockies general manager Bill Schmidt expressed confidence in Tovar, stating, “He has already proven he is one of the best shortstops in baseball, and we see him as a cornerstone of this franchise for years to come.”
Originally from Venezuela, Tovar made his Major League Baseball debut on Sept. 22, 2022, and became the youngest Rockies’ player to start on opening day last year at 21 years and 240 days old.
In the 2023 season, he recorded a .253 batting average with 15 home runs, 73 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases. Additionally, he set a rookie shortstop record with a .988 fielding percentage, surpassing the previous mark set by Troy Tulowitzki in 2007. Tovar joined the Rockies organization in 2017 after signing for an $800,000 bonus.
